The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-03-25
Select lf(lsttllanp.
Olden Time Etiquette.

Fra Bonvcsin's FIFTY CourtesieS Of
the Table" is Il thirtcenth-century
manuscript which at present exists
among the many treasures of the Am
broSian Library 1t Milan. where ii has
been examined hv more than one dis
tinguishcd expert, The little we know
Of Fra BonyeSin. Of Riva. shows him
TO be il monklsh school master with Il
ma rked turn for literature. TO the
students of early Italian literature. Il
local chronicle. as also Il canticle to
the Virgin, both penncd by the pious
monk. are known: but it is round his
''De Quinquaginta Curialitatibus ad
Mensam' that centres the chief inter-
est connected with writer who may lie
termed the Chesterfield of the thir-
tcenth century. And here it may be
remarked that quite as warmly us that
worthy noblcman does the Milan monk
impress upon his readers the nccesSi-
ty of being refined and well-brel. as
We see by his very first verse in which
one is admoniShcd before eating to
wash ones hands. and wash them
gracefully.
do not. We are next told. '.bc in
too great Il hurry TO take Your seat at
table before being invited: if You
should find Your place occupied, do
not make any disturbance about the
matter, but politely yield" Once
seated. one is above all warned not 10
neglect to say grace. 1T is to the cX-
treme gluttonouS and vile, and show
ing great contempt of the Lord. To
think of eating before having asked
His blessing" Grace said. one is en-
joined TO sit decently at table. not
with legs crossed. nor elbows on tie
board.
DO not. one is next recommended.
''till yonr mouth too full; the glutton
who fills his mouth will not be able to
reply when spoken To-. One is furth-
er advised, when eating. to speak lit
tie. because in talking. ones food is
apt to drop. or to be spluttered." -
when thirsty. swallow Your food be-
fore drinking. DO not dirty the
cup in drinking: take it with both
hands firmly, SO lis not to spill tie
wine. If not wishing to drink, and
your neighbor has dirtiel the cup,
wipe il before passing it on.
The fourteenth courtesy" is Il
shrewd one. to beware of taking too
much wine, even if it be good, ''for he
ottrnds trebly that does 50: against his
body and his soul, while the wine he
consumes is wasted" If any one ar
rives during the meal one is advised
not to rise but to continue eating.
The sixteenth "courtcsy'' is note
worthy in its recommendation to those
taking soup hot To swallow their
spoons" while they are further ad-
moniShed, il conscious of this bad hab-
it, 10 correct themselves as soon aS pos
sible. as also of the breach of good
manners in eating noisilv. If YOU
should sneeze or cough. cover Your
mouth, and above all turn away from
the table. Good manners. one is told.
demands that one should rartakc, how
ever little. of whatever is offered: if
that Is. the provi<o Is made. one is in
good health. Do not, on is urged.
criticize the food, or say, This i~ bad
y coohel, or ton salt" Attend To
Your own plate, and not to that of 9TH
els. u" not mix together on Your
plate all sorts "f yiandS. meat and eggs:
lit may. thoughtrnlly adds the writ
cr. disgust Your neighbor" "Do.not
eat coarSely ' OF vulgarIv: and if Won
have to share your bread with any one.
cut it neatly if you do not wish to be
ill-brrl hrutoi. ''Do not soak Your
bread in Your wine. for. remarks Fra
BonNr>in for the first time asserting
hi- own personality. i; any one should
Ain. with me. and Tins fish m hi, Nic-